berkelium

[ ber-kee-lee-uhm ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a transuranic element. Symbol: Bk; atomic number: 97; atomic weight: 249 (?).

Origin of berkelium

1
1945–50; named after Berkeley, California, where it was discovered; see -ium

Words Nearby berkelium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for berkelium

berkelium

/ (bɜːˈkiːlɪəm, ˈbɜːklɪəm) /


noun
  1. a metallic transuranic element produced by bombardment of americium. Symbol: Bk; atomic no: 97; half-life of most stable isotope, 247 Bk: 1400 years; valency: 3 or 4; relative density: 14 (est)

Origin of berkelium

1
C20: named after Berkeley 1, where it was discovered

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for berkelium

berkelium

[ bər-kēlē-əm, bûrklē-əm ]


Bk
  1. A synthetic, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series that is produced from americium, curium, or plutonium. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of about 1,400 years. Atomic number 97; melting point 986°C; valence 3, 4. See Periodic Table.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.